<p>I've been looking at the admissions requirements for many top med schools to find out if they allow for applicants to place out of pre-med reqs using AP credit. The common trend is that they would rather have applicants place out of introductory courses and take more advanced courses instead. However, most medical schools (the more realistic, non-ivy/top 10 ones) still ask applicants to complete lab portions for the introductory courses. Since UVA does not give lab credit for AP Chemistry scores, I was wondering if admissions officers would understand if I skipped out on the first year chemistry lab to pursue upper level chemistry courses and labs. Which transcript would they prefer? (One that places out of courses to take upper level ones, or one that retakes the lower level courses)</p>
<p>Dardy, I’m sure you’ve been told this, but with med school, it’s almost ALL about GPA and your MCAT. Yes, they want you to take challenging classes, and yes, they want you to have a slew of medically-related ECs, but in the end, the kid who takes the harder classes who makes a lot of Bs won’t get the nod – it’ll be the kid with the higher GPA.</p>
<p>Our D sounds a lot like you. She came in with 11 APs and 1 DC. She took the 800 series chem last year, physics 2010 and 2020, social psych, and an English. (BTW…she, along with EVERYONE else, would tell you NEVER to juggle the 800 series chem alongside physics – she did very well; however, students rarely do this for a reason – it’s insane! 
She didn’t know any better, but at least it’s done.) She didn’t forgo/waive any of her AP credit this past year; however, she may this year. She had AP Calc BC and AP Calc AB (both fives) but will most likely repeat Calc II (required for some med schools). She was advised by a med school admissions dean this summer that this would be fine – she needn’t enroll in Calc III and kill herself because many med schools don’t even require calc (simply stat), and it wouldn’t make a difference.</p>
<p>As for the chem, you probably would do well to enroll in the 800 series. Professor Harmon is fantastic (according to her), and with your background, it sounds like the best fit. I applaud you for looking at individual course requirements for each of the medical schools you’re that appeal to you as they vary somewhat. Like our D, you may have fulfilled your English through AP but most med schools want you to take 1-2 semesters at your school. The same holds true for math and of course, science. If you haven’t already purchased the MSAR book, I would highly encourage you to do so. It’s available for $25 directly through the AAMC website. It has a lot of the data you’ll need. Lastly, sometime after things die down for you first semester, I would encourage you to talk to Susan Salko, the pre-med facilitator in UCS. From what I’ve heard, she’s fantastic and can answer any questions you might have.</p>
<p>Hope this helps a little! Good luck, try and relax a bit, and have a great first year!</p>
<p>You can always just take the introductory lab and then the upper level course. Although I’m taking the 80’s (even though I got a 5 on AP Chem) I won’t repeat my physics, biology, math, or statistics credit. For Bio and Physics I’ll just take the intro lab (which I didn’t receive credit for) and then upper level courses.</p>
<p>From what I have read, the 1080s series of Chem is designed for students who have AP credit for the 1400 series, but are not ready to jump into 2000 levels, such as organic. </p>
<p>1080s is the perfect world - you don’t drown in too hard a class as a first year, you get your lab credits, you get a great prof, and you still get your 6 AP credits for the 1400 series.</p>
<p>Sorry, 1080s should be 1800s series of courses.</p>
<p>i was talking to a dean at one of the top 15 med schools in the country, and honestly, they care very little about AP scores. when it comes to intro courses (especially bio), they don’t care if you have AP credit, they still expect you to take the intro courses at your college. like jc40 said, at the end of the day, it’s all about your gpa and mcat score. the deans’ll be looking to see if you’ve taken the four intro courses: physics, chem, bio, and orgo chem. therefore, even though you won’t be receiving credit, retake your prereq premed classes even if you did well.</p>
<p>on another note, in my bio lab class last year, i met a guy who graduated from johns hopkins and had already received credit for his intro premed classes through AP at JHU, but he had to retake them at UVA (his hometown) because he skipped out on them and the schools he was applying to told him to go back to school and retake them. harsh, but AP credits don’t count for much in the real world.</p>